Oxalatonickelate


The oxalatonickelates are a class of compounds that contain nickel complexed by oxalate groups. They form a series of double salts, and include clusters with multiple nickel atoms. Since oxalate functions as a bidentate ligand it can satisfy two coordinate positions around the nickel atom, or it can bridge two nickel atoms together.
The shape around the nickel atom is octahedral for diaquabisnickelate. The colour of this is green due to the Ni6 chromophore. The absorption in infrared is at 8,300 9,060 13,400, 15,260, and 26,160 cm−1. The ligand field parameters are 10 Dq=8800 cm−1 and B=1000 cm−1.
formulanameother namesstructurecolour or decompositionCAS Numberreferences
2−bisnickelate
Li2•6H2Odilithium bisnickelate dehydrate 80° decompose 345°112678-94-1
Na2•3H2Odisodium bisnickelate dehydrates at 85°, decompose over 320°107996-66-5
2•3H2Odiammonium bisnickelate dehydrate 180-262° deaminate 262-338 °C108559-31-5
K2•4H2Odipotassium trans-diaquabisnickelate-water potassium bis oxalate nickel tetrahydratemonoclinic a=8.647 b=6.627 c=12.118 β=101.58° V=680.3 Z=2 density=2.05 / 2.04green14244-63-4
Co•5H2Ocobaltbisnickelatepentahydratelight pink
Mn•4H2Omanganesebisnickelatetetrahydratelight blue
Cd•4H2Ocadmiumbisnickelatetetrahydrateblue

Because the Ni2+ ion resembles many other divalent metal ions, it can be substituted by them, or substitute for them in other oxalate compounds to form mixed oxalates where the proportions can vary continuously. For example, magnesium nickel oxalate dihydrate.